We’ve asked Colin from International Paint to give us 5 things every boat owner needs to know about Antifouling.
1. Why do boats need to be antifouled?
Protecting your boat from marine growth is an unavoidable but absolutely necessary task. The sea contains immense quantities of floating plant and animal life ‘plankton’.
In essence, the boats natural environment of water contains the seeds of diminished performance and if unattended its eventual destruction.
It is a known fact that the density of marine organisms is greatest in coastal waters that are 10°C or warmer and since the run-off from the land brings a wealth of food on which plankton exists, harbours and estuaries where boats are moored are literally the breeding grounds for marine growth.
The best solution to the problem of fouling is treating the hull with an antifouling paint.
2. What is antifouling paint?
Antifoul paint is a coating which is formulated to inhibit the growth of marine organisms on the below-water surface area of vessels by the release of biocides. The level of biocide is not the only determining factor of how an antifouling paint will perform. The resin system is equally important since it is the mechanism that determines how fast the biocides will be released.
The amount of biocide may affect the life of an antifouling paint but the sophistication of the resin system to hold and release biocide at the proper rate is far more important to the effectiveness of the antifouling.
3. Types of Antifouling Paint
a. Ablative or polishing antifoulings: Cover most boats, choose this category for your longevity of protection:
- Soft/Ablative – Awlcraft/Micron One
- Ablative – Micron Extra 2
- Premium Ablative – Micron AP
These types of antifoulings are ‘polishing’ because the action of the boat physically moving through the water wears away the leach layer, and so exposes fresh biocide.
Ablative types of antifouling are more efficient at delivering biocide than Hard antifoulings and use less biocide to provide more antifouling protection.
- Aluminium Compatible: Aluminium surfaces
- Trilux 33
- Hard Antifouling
b. Hard antifoulings: Fast boats, fresh water, racing craft, abrasion resistance or regular cleaning requirements
- Ultra 2
- VC Offshore
4. How does it work?
The paint dries to a porous film that is packed with biocides, and these leach out as they come into contact with water. This leaching is designed to release biocide throughout the season, but it is a diffusion-controlled process that starts at a high level and steadily decreases until there is not enough biocide coming out of the paint film to maintain fouling protection.
Once the biocide is exhausted, the remaining hard paint film remains and must be recoated.
5. Are antifoulings safe to handle?
Antifoulings are totally safe if handled properly.
Before opening the tin and beginning work always read the label carefully and follow the health and safety advice on it.
If misused, antifoulings can be harmful to human health and/or the environment.
Always wear a cartridge-type respirator, overalls, gloves and safety glasses when abrading old antifoulings or better still wet sand.
The applicator should remove overalls and wash their hands thoroughly before going to the toilet and wash their faces before drinking or eating.
Transfer of irritant materials to areas of skin which are more delicate than the hands can be very unpleasant and should be avoided.
In Conclusion
- Choose the right antifouling for your boat and it’s use
- Make sure the surface is well-prepared, clean and dry
- Apply the correct amount of paint for your vessel’s underwater surface area
- Remember high-wear areas
- Don’t over-thin antifoulings – it reduces their life
- Protect yourself with overalls, goggles and gloves
For more information, contact International Paint located at GCCM.
If you want one of our professional antifoulers to do the job for you, call our friendly crew at reception and they will talk to you about our Special Antifouling package. You can also find a list of our preferred business partners specialised in antifouling, sandblasting, and detailing in our online business directory.
